Reflections on 2008

Its that time of year that we tend to look back over our shoulder and reflect, while also trying to peak over the hill to see what may be coming up.
I admit to myself that I feel somewhat happy for being in the line of work that I am in. Our fence company has had a dang good year. And, considering the doom and gloom that you hear in most sectors of agriculture - thats a danged good thing from my perspective.

Steel prices have gone thru the roof during the last year. Yes, at present scrap steel prices are way down. So an average consumer tends to convince theirselves that steel products should follow. That doeesnt always happen and when it does it takes a lot longer to go down than it did to go up. Some retailers maintained their stock of steel products while others did not. Time will tell who was right.

Fertilizer costs were out of reach for the average producer. And although everyone said that those costs were directly related to the oil industry - are they ? Well, fuel prices are back down to about were they were 4 years ago. Fertilizer is still out of reach. Any input on this ?? I think greed has something to do with it.

Fuel Prices in the past year have impacted every business and individual in the country. Did some of us rethink the way we think this past year ?? I bought a deisel truck last January. Was I ever a genius ! I can now fill the same truck up for $62 that was costing me $140 last summer. And they tell me that deisel is a by product of gasoline..........so why does it cost a $1 a gallon more ?? I am also told that the oil industry invented the deisel engine so they could get rid of the byproduct wastes. Man, i get confused writing about it, not to mention thinking about it.

So why am I happy to be in the line of work that i am ? We deal primarily with livestock producers that are trying real hard to make a living off of their grass. They are low input types of people and excellent managers. They dont like equipment or the costs associated with it. So, they have less need for fuel. They have the management prioroties and patience to work with their grasses and forages without chemical enhancements. They have taken steps to evolve their breeds and types of livestock that can and will get along quite well on grass and forage alone. They dont want or need all those input costs that most have become accustomed to.
They realize the value and longevity of the products that electric fencing provides them. They look at "management intensive grazing" as a lifestyle. They do not misconstrue the meaning of "mig" into labor intensive grazing - because it does not require more labor......it actually requires less !
I guess i have rambled on enough for now.
I do want to make a point of getting this blog going. Its sat stale for too long...........
Have a great day.
Gary